
l^^o S /farrts i Sci^ utl Ph la 



ISSUED BY 



Tlie Commissioners forte [rection Of the 

Nev^PubucBuildings 

1890. 



mnmissimiers for th \mim of i\\t : 3uWic iiultlinus 



TH E 



NEW City Hall 

PHILADELPHIA. 



•'861890 




DIRECTORY 

OF Offices Occupied ; or Allotted and in Pro- 
cess OF Completion, with Diagrams 
OF Various Floors, 

And Other Miscellaneous Information 
Appertaining to the Building. 



OCTOBER 7. 1890. 



Printed for the Commissioners; 
1890. 



Commissioners for tlie Erection of the Public Buildings. 



JANUARY 1, 1890. 



Wm. Brice, 
Isaac S. Cassin, 
Maiilon H. Dickinson, 
Edwin H. Fitler, ex officio, 

Mayor. 

Thomas E. Gaskill, 
James R. Gates, ex officio, 

President Select Couucil. 

Samuel C. Perkins, President 



John L. Hill, 

AViLLiAM M. Smith, ex officio, 

President Common Council. 

Hiram Mii.ler, 
Richard Peltz, 
William S. Stokley, 
William H. Wright, 



OFFICERS. 

President, Samuel C. Perkins. 

Secretary, AVilliam B. Land. 

Treasurer, John Bardsley. 

Solicitor, Samuel Pelt/. 
. T -. . fTbe late John McArthur, Jr. 
Architects, |j^^^^ q^^^ Successor. 

Superintendent of Construction, Wm. C. McPherson. 

STANDING COMMITTEES. 

Executive Committee. 

The Executive Committee consists of the President, ea'-oJ?c?o, with 
four members of the Commission, who rotate nionthly in the alphsi- 
betical order of their names. 



Heating and Ventilating. 
Mahlon H. Dickinson, CJnn. 
Isaac S. Cassin, 
Hiram Miller. 

Fitting Up and Furnishing Rooms. 
John L. Hill, Cli77i. 
Richard Peltz, 
Thomas E. Gaskill. 

Elevators. 
Richard Peltz, Chm. 
Isaac S. Cassin, 
Thomas E. Gaskill. 



Lightning Protection. 
President, 
Architect, 
Superintendent. 

Water Supply. 

Isaac S. Cassin, CJim. 
Wm. Brice, 
Wm. S. Stokley. 

Electric Lighting. 
President, 
Architect, 
Sih'erintendent. 



Tower. 



Samuel C. Perkins, President, Chairman. 
Isaac S. Cassin, William Brice. 



'■4 



8 

PHILADELPHIA. 
DirVTENSIONS OR BUILDING. 

From North to South 4Sf)ft. (Jin. 

From East to West 470 ft. 

Area 4)^ acres. 

Height of Main Tower 547 ft. 3^^ in. 

Width of Base 90 ft. 

Centre of Clock Face ."{(U ft. above pavemenl. 

Diameter of Clock Face 20 It. 

Height of Upper Balcony 296 ft. 

Number of Rooms in Building 7-^0 

Total Amount of Floor-room is 14)^ acres. 

Height of each Centre Pavilion 202 ft. 103^ in. 

" corner Towers Kil ft. 

Basement Story IH ft. 3X in. 

" Principal Story 38 ft. « in. 

" Second Story 35 It. 7 in. 

" Third Storv, Centre Pavilions 26 ft. 6 in. 

Third Story, Wings 24 ft. 3 in. 

Third Story, Curt;iins 20 ft. 5 in. 

" Attic of Centre Pavilions 15 ft. 

" Attic of Corner Towers 13 ft. 6 in. 

" Crowning Statue 37 ft. 

" Figures on Centre Dormers 17 ft. 6 in. 

" Figures on corner Dormers 12 ft. 10 in 

COMRAR.ATIVE HKIGHXS 

OF THE 

PpineipExl Buildings in the WoMd. 

Washington Monument 550 ft. 

City Hall, Philadelphia .547 ft. SVg in . 

Cologne Cathedral 510 " 

Great Pyramid 4S0 " 

Strasburg Cathedral 468 " 

St. Peter's, Rome 4J8 " 

St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna 441 " 

Salisbury Cathedral . . 404 " 

Torcacio of Cremona 396 " 

FriburgCatiiedral 3h5 " 

Amiens Cathedral 3»3 " 

Ciuircl) of St. Peter, Hamburg 380" 

The Cathedral, Florence 376 " 

Hotel de Ville, Brussels 371 " 

Torre Asinelli, Bologna 370" 

St. Paul's, London 360 " 

Church of St. Isaac, St. Peter.-burg 336" 

Cathedral, Frankfort on ^Main 326 " 

Bell Tower, St. Mark's, Venice 323 " 

Hotel des Invalides, Paris 310 " 

U. S. Capitol, Washington . . 287 " 

Masonic Temple, Philadelphia 230 " 



ARRANOKIVIKNX 



— FOR — 



NUMBKRING THK ROOMS- 



The buildings from the exterior on each of the four fronts, 
exclusive of the centre and corner pavilions, present a base- 
ment story or ground floor, with three principal stories, the 
uppermost one being a mansard story. These stories, above 
the basement, are in portions divided by mezzanine or half- 
stories, which are specially to be noticed from the court-yard. 
The centre and corner pavilions rise above the adjacent 
wings and curtains, with attic stories; the corner pavilions 
being occupied by octagonal staircases. 

Including the sub-basement and the mezzanine stories, 
there are seven floors in the building, the rooms in each floor 
being on the same level. To each of these floors an even 
one hundred numbers have been assigned, commencing at 
the north entrance and following round the buildings to the 
east, south, and west fronts, and returning to the north 
entrance; twenty-five numbers being assigned for each 
quarter of the building. The rooms facing the streets will 
have the even numbers, and those overlooking the court- 
yard the odd numbers. Ihe numbers in each one hundred 
will be assigned to the rooms of corresponding numbers im- 
mediately above and below upon the other floors. Thus, for 
example, rooms numbered 40, 140, 2-10, 340, 440, 540 and 640 
will be immediately one over the other. 



-^I- IDH^ECTO^Y OF OFFICES -r^ 

ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED. Nos. 

Board of Health — Chief Clerk, 

Health Officer, 
" " House Drainage Inspectors, 

Milk Inspectors, 
" " Nuisance Inspectors, 

" " Ketristration of Births, Deaths and 

Marriages, . 
Board of Revision of Taxes, . 
Clerk of Court of Quarter Sessions, 
Commissioners — City 

" Fairmount Park, 

" New Public Buildings, 

Controller, 

Courts — Common Pleas, No. 1, Room A, 

No. 1, Room B, 
No. 2, Room C, 
No. 2, Room D, 
No. 3, Room E, 
No. 3, Room F, 
No. 4, Room G, 
" No. 4. Room H, 
" Criminal (Princii)al) Court Room, 
'' Orphans' Court — Records, 
" Police Court Room, 
" Supreme Court Room, 

" Prothonotary, 
Department of Public Safety — Boiler Inspectors, 
*' " " Building Inspectors, 

" " " City Property Bureau, 

" " " Detective Bureau, 

" " Director, 

'" " " Electrical Bureau, 

" " " Superintendent of Police, 

Department of Public Works — Director 

" " " Highway Bureau, 

" " " Survey i3ureau. 

District Attorney, .... 
Grand Jury Room, 

Mayor, 

National Guard, Pa. — Headquarters, 
Police Matron, .... 
Register of Wills, .... 
Tax Office, . . 
Tax Office — Delinquent Taxes, 

AVater Rents, . 
Treasurer — City, .... 



Directory of Offices on First Floor. 

Nos. 

10"2 Receiver of Taxes, General Office. 

104 " " Chief Clerk. 

10(3 " " Private Office. 

108 Assessorsof Real Estate. 

110 Delinquent Taxes. 
112 

114 Water Rents. 

IK) 

12S Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property 

Store Room. 

loO Department Public Safety, Markets and City Property 

General Office. 

134 City Commissioners, Pi'ivate Office. 

136 " " General " 

138 " " Clerks' '' 

140 City Controller, Auditor's " 

-lAO ii" " »' " 

144 " " " " 

146 •' " General " 

148 " " Private " 

1()2 Register of Wills, Private 

162 A " " State Appraiser. 

164 " " Deputy's Office. 

166 " '' Clerks' 

168 " " Record Room. 

170 " " Hearing " 



Nos. 

Ill Board of Revision of Taxes, Private Room. 

113 '^ " '• Board 

11.5 '• " " General Clerks' Room. 

119 " " " Search 

121 Ladies' Toilet Room. 

127 Commissioners of Fairmount Park, Engineer and Su- 
perintendent. 

129 Comuiissioners of Fairmount Park, Board Room. 

133 City Treasurer's Clerks' Room. 

143 " " General and Private Office. 



"Diagram of First Floor of the }^cw City -Hall 
Thila^olpbia. 



X o I- t Ix 



iforth 
Entrance 



,r 






190 1 192 

_J 



Xoj'th 



0_i 



II II 

A 100 A 

II II 

II II 



Tower 



H 



Court Yard 



168 



171 


^ 






167 


_._ 


f^ 




ISTj 


B 
153 




163 




Open Area 
•§1 


r 



Fro rn t 



H 



Corridor 



Ic 



in B 



112 



i t 
South Cori^idoi* 





fc 


127 




(^ 




129 




B 1 |l39 
1+3 






133 


1 


Open Ai'ea 

rr 



^- 126 !»« 

, ,^r. 



South 



_1 



South 
Entrance 



Front 



ISTO TE. 

A Stairrasps. C „ Ventilating Shafts. 

B Elevators. D Fubfic Toilet rooms. 



Directory of Offices on Second Floor. 
Nos. 

210 Department Public Works, Director's Private Room. 

212 " " " Clerks' Room. 

214 Mavor's Clerks' Room. 

216 '' Reception" 

218 " Private " 

280 Department Public Works, Licenses and Sewers. 

232 " " " Chief Com. Highways. 

234 " " " Street Cleaning. 

236 '• " " Highway Com. Room. 

240 

242 " " " Boiler Inspector's Clerks. 

244 Dept. Pub. Works, Boiler Inspector's Private Office. 

246 Architect's Draughting Room. Temporary. 

248 " Private " ' " 

2o4 Court of Common Pleas, No. 2, Room C. 

262 r Temporary Offices of the Commissioners for the Erec- 

264 \ tion of the New Public Buildings. 

266 Court of Common Pleas, No. 3, Room E. 

280 " " " No. 4, Room G. 



Nos. 

213 Department of Public Safetv. Clerks. 

215 

217 " " " 

219 " " " . Director's Private Room. 

221 " " " Director's Room. 

225 " " '' Lieut's Hearinu" Room. 

227 " " " Supt. of Police Clerks. 

229 " " " " " Private. 

243 Courtof Common Pleas, No. 1, Room B. 

253 " " " No. 2, Room D. 

275 " " " No. 3, Room F. 

285 " " " No. 4, Room H. 

Note. — Eooms Nos. 230 to 248 inclusive a'e now in use temporarily. 
Nos. 230 to 242 having been allotted to the permanent oflftces of the Pro- 
thonotary of the Courts of Common Pleas, and Room No. 24fi to the 
Court of Common Pleas, No. 1, Room A. 



Diagram of^ccon^Floor of tfK Xqyj City Hall 
9f)Ua5olpbia. 



NorO-i 
Entrarvc 



jSr o r t h 



288 

28S 



Kortlx 



281 



r 



DC 

A 



F "r o rL t 



Corridor 



.1] 



(c 



PF 



tn 



OpenAi'ea. 



"b! 



23 7 P^ * 

'-Met 

f>pei\ Area 

[H 



S o nth Gorx'idLox 



S O T_t "t K- 



A 
226 



r r o IT. t 



bi 



isro TE. 

A staircases. C Ventilating Shafts. 

B — Elevators. D Public ToilH- rooms. 



10 
Directory of Offices on Third Floor. 

Nos. 

310 Mayor's Office Store Room. 
312 Survey Bureau " " 
316 
318 



Nos. 

313 Building Inspectors. 

315 

317 Boiler 

319 

321 Department of l'nl)lic Safety Police Station Supplies. 

325 " " " Large Store Room. 

327 " " " Store Room. 



'i)iaijram ofThiv^Floorof the Xow City Hall 
T[)ilac)olpbia. • 



North 



North 



B A 



m 



11 



p63A|36lfe 



Open Area 



Tower 



T"" r o n I 



n 



(•oipidor- 



A B 



^ :r. 



g] 



S o T 1 1 It C o j • r- i d o i • 



South 



•336 



Front 



A Stuircasps. C _ Ventilalinfj S/ia/Ys. 

B Elevators. D Public Toilet rooinfi. 



12 
Directory of Offices on Fourth Floor. 

Nos. 

406 Board of Highway Supervisors' Draughting Room 

410 Registrar Survey Department City Plans 

412 Registry Bureau 

416 " " Assistant Engineer 

418 " " Chief Engineer Sewers, Etc. 

420 Board of Surveys Committee Room 

450 Supreme Court Justices' Consuhation Room. 

452 " " " Toilet Room. 

454 " " Room. 

456 " " Prothonotary's Office. 

458 

460 

468 Law Library. 

476 '• •' • 

480 



>^5 



^pq 



Diagram of Fourth Floor of the Xew City Hall 
5^f)ila5(?lpbia. 



¥ o r t K 



IT 



Fr on t 















No 


r- 


til 


Co r r i 


d 


O T 










bI 4-91 




495 497 


409 




^ 1 
Tower 

h r 




401 


103J405i j 411 |b] 




487 








413 




4-85 






415 












V A / 


417 


481 








4-19 


~^ 


477 


^ 


[c 


421 





473 




425 


^^■ 


471 


a 


P 


427 


1-^ 
O 


4B7 


r 


457j |_B_ 
453 




B 1 (4ffl 
443 


n 


429 














465 


463 


A 


^''l 459 


:jf^435 


AJ433 


•iSl 




Lc 


J 




cl 1 




OpeTLArea 








A 








Open-Area 




B] 










455 




451 


445 




441 






fB 



w 



Soia-t"h_ Corriciov 



IL 



S o 11 t Jx 



444 4421440 



-1 



F 1^ O IT t 



T«^0 TE. 

A Staircases. C Veniilating Shafts. 

B Etevators. D Public Toilet- rooms. 



14 

DiRECTOEY OF OfP^ICES 0\ FiFTH FlOOR. 
Nos. 

530 Orphans' Court Record Rooms. 

582 " " " " 

534 

536 

556 Supreme Court 

558 

560 



Nos. 

513 Board of Health Milk Inspector. 

515 " " Re^^istration Bureau. 

517 " " ' " 

529 Detective Bureau. 

531 

533 

535 

537 



Diagram of Fifth Floor of the Xm City Hall 
T[)ila5clpf)ia. 



N o r t h 



r 



r (.( n I 



X o !• t h ()i) rr i d or 



F 




59c 


1 .597 1 539 




^ L 




501 


5113 


505 


r 






B 


587 






Tower 






5\:i 


5H.-. 




515 




\ A y 




517 


581 




A 


577 


C] [C 

g [c 


521 


575 


525 


571 


527 


567 


r 


— T f^ 

557| 1 B 

553 




B 1 [53a 

543 


-I 


529 








1 


565 


563 A 


561 sS 


537 5'^'' 


A 


SM 


5il 


Lc 


J 




^ 


1 





pen 


Area 






A 










Open 


A 


ve 


i 



SoutK Corrido: 



S o LL 1- K 



Jl 



t^l'O Tl L 



A staircases. C Veniilatiny Shafts. 

B Eleva to rs. D Pa blic Toilet ro oms. 



16 

Directory of Offices on Sixth Floor. 

Nos. 

610 Board of Health, Chief Clerk. 

612 " " Clerks' Room. 

616 " " Board Room. 

618 Electrical Bureau, Chief's Priv. Room. 

620 " " Clerks' Room. 

626 " " Operatino; Room. 

628 " " Inspectors' Room. 

630 Dept. Pub. Safety, Reserves Roll Room. 

634 " " ^ '• Sitting " 

636 " " " Toilet^ " 

640 to 688 Criminal Courts and Offices. 

646 Criminal Court Room. 

650 Counsel's Conversation Room. 

654 Criminal Court Room. 

676 

682 Offices of District Attorney. 

684 

688 



Nos. 

613 Board of Health, Inspectors of House Drainage. 

615 Boardof Health, Health Officer. 

617 " " Inspec. of Nuisances. 

621 Police Magistrates' Private Room. 

625 " " Court Room. 

627 " " AVitness' Room. 

629 Police Captains' Room. 

631 Lieut. Reserves' " 

633 Sergt. 

635 Matron's 

637 

639 Turnkey and Surgeon of Police. 

643 Police Prisoners' Cell Room. 

653 Court Prisoners' Detention Room. 

657 Turnkey's Room. 

659 Officer's Room. 

661 

663 Witness' Room. 

665 

667 

675 Grand Jury Room. 

677 Offices of the Clerk of Quarter Sessions. 

681 

685 

687 



Diagram off?>\xth Floor of \i}Q ]^ew Cilv ^all 
'Jpf)tla5(>lpf)ia. 



North- 



IT 



690 1 692 694 

I I 



Y~r o rvt 



Novth. CorT'idor 



Q 



B 


1 


693 


695 








601 


607 




TbI 


—'687 






Tower 






613 


685 


615 














v^y 


617 


681 








A 


677 


cj 


ic 


621 


675 




625 


671 




cl 




[^ 


627 


667 








f^ 


rT^ 




629 






R 




B 1 [639 
6-i3 






JAfeeTjgii 


653 


iiTJessj 




1 ■ 
6tt5|b6l 


a[633 


B31 


LCJ 


Lcj 1 


Ope 


TL 


Ai-e 


3L 






A 








[Ipen 


Arfcc 


1 



Soath Coi^T'iior 



IL 



S O XL t K 



652 
I 



o 



Froixt 



IvTO TE . 

A Staircases. C Venitlating Shafts. 

B Elevators. D Public Toilet- rooms. 



AN ACT 



FOR thp: 



Ereetion of the Publie Buildings. 



An Act to provide for the erection of all the Public Buildings 
required to accommodate the Courts, and for all Municipal 
purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, and to require tJie 
appropriation by said City, of Penn Squares, at Broad and 
Market Streets, to the Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy 
of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Phila- 
delphia Library, in the event of the said Squares not being 
selected by a vote of the people, as the site for the Public 
Buildings for said city. 

Section 1. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of 
Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in 
General Assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the 
authority of the same : That Theodore Cuyler, John Rice, 
Samuel C. Perkins, John Price Wetherill, Lewis C. 
Cassidy, Henry M. Phillips, William L. Stokes, Willlvm 
Devine, the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, and the 
Presidents of Select and Common Councils, for the time 
being, are constituted Commissioners for the erection of the 
Public Buildinos required to accommodate the Courts, and 



20 

for all Municipal purposes, in the City of Philadelphia, who 
shall organize within thirty days, procure such plans for the 
said buildings adapted to either of said sites hereinafter 
named, as in their judgment may be needful ; appoint of 
of their own number, a President, and from other than their 
own number, a Secretary, Treasurer, Solicitor, a competent 
Architect and assistants, and other employees; fix the com- 
pensation of each person employed by them, and do all other 
acts necessary in their judgment to carry out the intent of 
this act in relation to said Public Buildings; fill any vacan- 
cies which may happen by death, resignation, or otherwise, 
and if in the judgment of said Commission, they shall deem 
it advisable to increase their number, they may, by a vote of 
a majority of their whole number, increase said Commission 
from time to time to any number not exceeding thirteen. 
The said Commissioners are hereby authorized and directed 
to locate said buildings on either Washington Square or Penn 
Square, as may be determined by a vote of the legally quali- 
fied voters of the City of Philadelphia, at the next general 
election in October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy, 
and the Sheriff shall issue his proclamation, and the City 
Commissioners and other proper officers of said City, shall 
provide all things that may be needful to enable the voters 
to decide by ballot, their choice of a site for said Public 
Buildings, and the Return Clerks shall certify to the Pro- 
thonotary, the result of said election in the usual form 
required for other elections. And as soon as said choice is 
determined by a vote of the people, as provided in this act, 
the said Commissioners shall, within thirty days thereafter, 
advertise for proposals, and make all needful contracts for 
the construction of said buildings, as soon thereafter as may 
be found practicable, which contracts shall be valid and 
binding in law upon the City, and upon the Contractors, 
when approved by a majority of the said Board of Commis- 
sioners; and the said Commissioners shall make requisition 
on the Councils of said City, prior to the first day of December 



21 

in each year, for the amount of money required by them for 
the purposes of the Commission for the succeeding year, and 
said Councils shall levy a special tax, sufficient to raise the 
amount so required. Provided, That said Councils may at 
any time make appropriations out of the annual tax in aid 
of the purposes ot this act. And provided furtlter, That the 
amount to be expended by said Commissioners shall be 
strictly limited to the sum required to satisfy their contracts 
for the erection of said buildings, and for the proper and 
complete furnishing thereof; and as soon as any part of said 
buildings may be completed and furnished ready for occu- 
pancy, they shall be occupied by the Courts, or such branch 
of the Municipal Government as they are intended for by 
said Commissioners; and upon the completion of a sufficient 
portion of said buildings to accommodate the Courts and 
Municipal Officers, the buildings now occupied by them re- 
spectively shall be vacated and removed, and upon the entire 
completion of the new buildings, all the present buildings on 
Independence Square, except Independence Hall, shall be 
removed, and the ground placed in good condition by said 
Commission as part of their duty under this act, the expense 
of which shall be paid out of their general fund provided by 
this act, and thereupon the said Independence Square shall 
be and remain a public walk and green forever. 

And be it further provided, That in the event of Washington 
Square being selected by a majority of votes as the loca- 
tion for the said Public Buildings, then and in that event, 
the Councils of the City of Philadelphia are hereby author- 
ized, empowered and required to set apart for and convey by 
proper deeds or grants of conveyance, or by proper assurances 
of the right to occupy said squares, which the Mayor of 
the City of Philadelphia shall duly sign and execute under 
the seal of said City, the four squares of ground, known as 
Penn Squares, located at the intersection of Broad and Market 
Streets, in the City of Philadelphia, as laid down on the 
present map of said City, one to each of the following insti- 



22 

tiitions : the Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of Natural 
Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Philadelphia 
Lihrary, for the purpose of allowing them to erect thereon, 
ornamental and suitable buildings for their respective insti- 
tutions. The location of such buildings and the plans thereof 
to be approved by the Conmiissioners appointed under this 
act, and their successors in office, together with the time of 
erection, and all other matters appertaining thereto : Provi- 
ded, hoiuever, That all expenses connected with said convey- 
ances, plans and other information requisite for the said 
Commission to have, shall be paid by the institutions respect- 
ively. In the event of the ultimate selection of Penn Squares 
as the site for said Public Buildings, the said Commission 
shall have authorit}^ and they are hereby empowered to 
vacate so much of Market and of Broad Streets, as they may 
deem needful; Provided, however. That the streets passing 
around said buildings, shall not be of less width than one 
hundred feet. It shall be the duty of the Mayor, the City 
Controller, City Commissioners, and City Treasurer, and all 
other officers of the Cit3% and also the duty of the Councils 
of the City of Philadelphia, to do and perform all such acts 
in aid and promotion of the intent and purpose of this Act 
of Assembly, as said Commission may from time to time 
require. All laws and parts of laws restricting the uses and 
purposes of said Squares, or any of them, that may be in 
conflict v.ith the intention and purpose of this act, be and 
the same are hereby repealed. 

B. B. STRANG, 
Speaker of the House of Eepresentativcx. 

CHARLES H. STINSON, 

Speaker of llit Senate. 

A})proved the fifth day of August, Anno Domini one 
thousand eight hundred and seventy. 

JOHN W. GEARY. 



SUMIVLARY 

OF LEGISLATIVE AND MUNICIPAL ACTION RELA- 
TING TO THE WORK, WITH A BRIEF 
HISTORY OF EVENTS PER- 
TAINING THERETO. 



The earliest movements relating to the present under- 
taking consisted in the passage of an ordinance by the City 
Councils, approved December 31, 1868, providing for the erec- 
tion of Municipal Buildings on Independence Square, and 
designating Commissioners to carry the same into effect. 

The first meeting of the Commission was held in the Select 
Council Chamber, January 7, 1869. 

Architectural designs were advertised for on the 5th of 
April, 1869, and on the 1st of September following, plans and 
drawings had been received from seventeen different archi- 
tects. 

At a meeting of the Commissioners, held September 27, 
1869, the first premium was awarded to John McArthur, Jr., 
architect of this city, and on the 27tli of the following 
December, Mr. McArthur was appointed Architect of the 
work, and proposals for labor and materials were ordered to 
be advertised for. 

Contracts were awarded on the 16th of January, 1870, and 
arrangements made for commencing the work. 

A strong opposition to Independence Square, as the site 
for the Municipal Buildings, had existed in the public mind 
from the earliest movements in that direction, and as the 
Commission proceeded with their preparations for carrying 
out the provisions of the ordinance under which they were 



24 

acting, the opposition became daily more intensified, until it 
culminated in the passage of a law by the Legislature of the 
State, approved August 5, 1870, providing for the erection of 
the Public Buildings, either on Washington Square or on 
Penn Square, as the legally qualified voters of the City of 
Philadelphia might determine, at the general election to be 
held in October, 1870. The election resulted, out of a total 
of 84,450 votes, in a majority of above 18,800 in favor of the 
site on Penn Square, which finally disposed of the question. 
The passage of this law rendered the municipal ordinance of 
no efl'ect, and relieved the Commissioners acting under it, of 
farther duties. 

The fiist meeting of the Commissioners, under the new 
law, was held on the 27th of August, 1870, at the Mayor's 
Office. A temporary organization was effected by the election 
of the Mayor, Daniel M. Fox, as President, and Eugene G. 
Woodward, Secretary. 

September 15, 1870, John Mc Arthur, Jr., was elected Archi- 
tect of the work. 

October 4, 1870, a permanent organization was made, and 
John Rice was elected President, Charles R. Roberts, Secre- 
tary, and Charles H. T. Collis, Solicitor. 

The removal of the iron railings which inclosed the four 
squares on Broad and Market Streets, was commenced on 
the 27th of January 1871, and this may properly be consid- 
ered as the date of the actual beginning of the work ; and 
August 10, 1871, the ground was formally broken by the 
President of the Commission. 

October 12, 1871, Francis De Haes Janvier was elected 
Secretary, in place of Mr. Roberts, resigned, and John Sun- 
derland was elected Superintendent. 

April 7, 1872, the original plan for one building on the 
intersection of Broad and Market Streets, instead of four 
buildings, divided by these streets, was finally resolved upon. 



25 

The first stone was laid on the 12th of August, 1872, in the 
southwest angle of the foundations by the President. 

On the 17th of April, 1872, Mr. Rice resigned as President 
of the Commissioners, and Samuel C. Perkins was elected in 
his place, and has held the office continuously ever since. 

The contract for the granite basement was awarded Novem- 
ber 19, 1872, for $515,500 ; and work was commenced at the 
buildings, under the contract, March 24, 1873. The contract 
for the marble work of the superstructure was awarded on 
the 7th of October, 1873, for $5,300,000 ; and the first block 
set at the southern entrance, July 3, 1874. 

The corner-stone was laid in the Northeast angle of the 
Tower, July 4, 1874, with Masonic ceremonies, by the R. W. 
Grand Master of F. and A. M. of Pennsylvania; and the 
last block of marble was set in place May 7, 1887, on the 
Tower at the Southwest angle, 337 feet 4h inches from the 
ground. 

November 4, 1873, Wm. C. McPherson was elected Super- 
intendent, and entered upon his duties November 10, 1873, 
and has been continued in office ever since. 

December 2, 1884, Chas. H. T. CoUis resigned his position 
as Solicitor to the Commissioners; and Samuel Peltz, was on 
the same date, elected to fill the vacancy. 

January 5, 1885, Francis De Haes Janvier, Secretary, died ; 
and on February 3, 1885, Wm. B. Land was elected to fill the 
vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Janvier. 

January 8, 1890, John McArthur, Jr., the Architect, died. 

January 15, 1890, John Ord was elected Architect, and en- 
tered upon his duties February 1, 1890. 

The appropriations, by Councils for the prosecution of the 
work have been to January 1, 1890, $12,891,609.88. 



27 



Descriptioii of the Buildirigs. 



THE EXTERIOR. 



A tendency exists in the public mind to seek to classify 
every considerable architectural design, under the head of 
some " order" or " style ;" but modern genius and taste deal 
so largely in original adaptations of classic, and other forms, 
that we often find no small difficulty in deciding under 
which, if any, of the heretofore established orders or styles 
many of the most important structures of the present day 
can properly be classed. 

The architecture of the New Public Buildings is of this 
character. It is essentially modern in its leading features, 
and presents a rich example of what is known by the generic 
term of the " Kenaissance," modified and adopted to the 
varied and extensive requirements of a great American 
municipality. 

It is designed in the spirit of French art, while, at the same 
time, its adaptation of that fiorid and tasteful manner of 
building, is free from servile imitation, either in ornamenta- 
tion or in the ordonnance of its details. 

This immense architectural pile is located on the intersec- 
tion of Broad and Market Streets, in the City of Philadelphia. 
It covers, exclusive of the court-yard, an area of nearly 4^ 
acres, and consists of one building, surrounding an interior 
court-yard. The north and south fronts measure 470 feet, 
and the east and west fronts 486J feet in their extreme 
leniith. 



28 

The four fronts are siniilar in design. In the centre of 
each, an entrance pavilion of 90 feet in width, rises to the 
height of 202 feet lOo inches, having receding wings of 128 
feet elevation. The fronts terminate at the four corners with 
towers or pavilions of 51 feet square, and 161 feet high. 

Tlie whole exterior is bold and effective in outline, and 
rich in detail, being elaborated with highly ornate columns, 
pilasters, pediments, cornices, enriched windows, and other 
appropriate adornments. 

Archways of 18 feet in width by 36 feet in height, opening 
through each of the four central pavilions, constitute the four 
principal entrances, and at the same time afibrd passages for 
pedestrians up and down Broad and Market Streets, directly 
tlirough the buildings. 

The basement story is 18 feet 3i inches in height, and 
stands entirely above the line of the pavement. Its exterior 
is of fine white granite, of massive proportions, forming a 
fitting base for the vast superstructure it supports. 

The exterior of the building, above the basement, embraces 
a principal story of 33 feet 6 inches, a second story of 35 feet 
7 inches, and a third story in the centre pavilions of 26 feet 
6 inches, with an attic over the central pavilions of 15 feet, 
and over the corner pavilions of 13 feet 6 inches, all of 
white marble, from the Lee Quarries, in Berkshire County, 
Massacliusetts, wrought, in all its adornments, in forms of 
exquisite beauty, expressing American ideas, and developing 
American genius. Ihe small rooms opening upon the court- 
yard are eacli sub-divided in height into two stories. 

In the centre of the group a court-yard of 200 feet square 
affords light and air to all the adjacent portions of the build- 
ing. From the north side of this space rises a grand tower, 
which will gracefully adorn the Public Buildings, and at the 
same time will be a crowning feature of the city, from what- 
ever point it may be approached, as Saint Peter's is of Rome, 
and Saint Paul's is of London. The foundations of this 
tow^er are laid on a bed of solid concrete, 100 feet square 



29 

8 feet 6 inches thick, at the depth of 23 feet 6 inches below 
the surface of the ground ; and its walls, which at the base 
are 22 feet in thickness, are built of dressed dimension 
stones, weighing from 2 to 5 tons each. 

This tower, which is so deeply and so strongly founded, is 
90 feet square at the base, falling ofi' at each story, until it 
becomes, at the spring of the dome, an octagon of 50 feet in 
diameter. A statue of the founder of Pennsylvania, 37 feet 
in height, will crown the structure, and complete the extra- 
ordinary altitude of 547 feet 3j inches, making it the highest 
tower in the world ; while at the same time it possesses the 
elements of firmness and stability, in a higher degree than 
any known structure of a like character. 

THE INTERIOR. 

The entire structure will contain over 750 rooms, giving 
convenient, and stately provision for the accommodation of 
" the Courts, and for all Municipal purposes in the City of 
Philadelpliia," including a vast amount of surplus room for 
use in the classification and preservation of the archives of 
the city, for storage, and for increased accommodations, 
which will undoubtedly be required from time to time by 
the natural increase of the public business, and the accumu- 
lation of the public records. 

Every room in the building will be well lighted, warmed, 
and ventilated, upon a thorough, effective, and approved 
system, and every part of the structure will be absolutely 
fireproof. 

The several stories are approached by ten large elevators, 
located at the intersections of the leading corridors, so as to 
facilitate the intercourse of citizens with the public offices, 
courts, and other branches of the government. In addition 
to these means of approach there are large and convenient 
stairways in the four corner buildings, and a grand staircase 
in each of the centre pavilions on the north, south, and east 
fronts. 



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